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Forensic Science Technicians Occupation Detailed Description

Forensic Science Technicians career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Forensic Science Technicians

The main tasks and work activities of Forensic Science Technicians are to testify at legal or legislative proceedings, interpret research or operational data, maintain laboratory or technical equipment, operate laboratory or field equipment. In general, for the Forensic Science Technicians, critical Thinking, speaking, writing, active Listening and other 11 skills are required.
Forensic Science Technicians Job Description
EducationMost of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Related ExperienceA considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Job TrainingEmployees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
ExampleMany of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, chemists, art directors, and cost estimators.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Forensic Science Technicians jobs. 6.93% of Forensic Science Technicians have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 39.46% of Forensic Science Technicians have Bachelor's Degree and Above.
Less than a High School Diploma
0.00%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
6.93%
Post-Secondary Certificate
0.00%
Some College Courses
39.18%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
14.43%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
39.46%

Tasks and Work Activities of Forensic Science Technicians

  • Testify in court about investigative or analytical methods or findings.
  • Interpret laboratory findings or test results to identify and classify substances, materials, or other evidence collected at crime scenes.
  • Operate and maintain laboratory equipment and apparatus.
  • Prepare solutions, reagents, or sample formulations needed for laboratory work.
  • Collect evidence from crime scenes, storing it in conditions that preserve its integrity.
  • Identify and quantify drugs or poisons found in biological fluids or tissues, in foods, or at crime scenes.
  • Reconstruct crime scenes to determine relationships among pieces of evidence.
  • Collect impressions of dust from surfaces to obtain and identify fingerprints.
  • Analyze gunshot residue and bullet paths to determine how shootings occurred.
  • Visit morgues, examine scenes of crimes, or contact other sources to obtain evidence or information to be used in investigations.
  • Examine physical evidence, such as hair, fiber, wood, or soil residues to obtain information about its source and composition.
  • Examine firearms to determine mechanical condition and legal status, performing restoration work on damaged firearms to obtain information, such as serial numbers.
  • Confer with ballistics, fingerprinting, handwriting, documents, electronics, medical, chemical, or metallurgical experts concerning evidence and its interpretation.
  • Compare objects, such as tools, with impression marks to determine whether a specific object is responsible for a specific mark.
  • Keep records and prepare reports detailing findings, investigative methods, and laboratory techniques.
  • Use chemicals or other substances to examine latent fingerprint evidence and compare developed prints to those of known persons in databases.
  • Train new technicians or other personnel on forensic science techniques.
  • Examine and analyze blood stain patterns at crime scenes.
  • Use photographic or video equipment to document evidence or crime scenes.
  • Review forensic analysts' reports for technical merit.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Documenting/Recording InformationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Updating and Using Relevant KnowledgeKeeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Processing InformationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
  • Communicating with Persons Outside OrganizationCommunicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
  • Monitor Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsMonitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
  • Interacting With ComputersUsing computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Testify at legal or legislative proceedings.
  • Interpret research or operational data.
  • Maintain laboratory or technical equipment.
  • Operate laboratory or field equipment.
  • Prepare compounds or solutions for products or testing.
  • Analyze forensic evidence to solve crimes.
  • Collaborate on research activities with scientists or technical specialists.
  • Record research or operational data.
  • Prepare scientific or technical reports or presentations.
  • Train personnel in technical or scientific procedures.
  • Document events or evidence, using photographic or audiovisual equipment.

Skills and Abilities for Forensic Science Technicians

  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
  • WritingCommunicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
  • Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Complex Problem SolvingIdentifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • ScienceUsing scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
  • Active LearningUnderstanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Judgment and Decision MakingConsidering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Time ManagementManaging one's own time and the time of others.
  • Social PerceptivenessBeing aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Systems AnalysisDetermining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
  • Learning StrategiesSelecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
  • Flexibility of ClosureThe ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
  • Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Far VisionThe ability to see details at a distance.
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Written ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
  • Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Category FlexibilityThe ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
  • Perceptual SpeedThe ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
  • Visual Color DiscriminationThe ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
  • Speed of ClosureThe ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.
  • Arm-Hand SteadinessThe ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Fluency of IdeasThe ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
  • VisualizationThe ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
  • Still camerase.g. 35 millimeter cameras
  • Laboratory mixerse.g. Benchtop mixers
  • Hazardous material protective apparele.g. Biohazard suits
  • Biological evidence collection kitse.g. Blood collection kits
  • Biological evidence collection kitse.g. Body fluid collection kits
  • Alcohol analyserse.g. Breathalyzers
  • Camera lense.g. Colored camera filters
  • Flags or accessoriese.g. Crime scene evidence flags
  • Tape measurese.g. Crime scene tape measures
  • Forensic chemical workstationse.g. Cyanoacrylate fuming chambers
  • Biological evidence collection kitse.g. Deoxyribonucleic acid DNA collection kits
  • Desktop computerse.g. Desktop computers
  • Digital camerase.g. Digital cameras
  • Digital camcorders or video camerase.g. Digital video cameras
  • Measuring wheels for distancee.g. Distance measuring wheels
  • Narcotic test kitse.g. Drug testing kits
  • Distance meterse.g. Electronic measuring devices
  • Laboratory balancese.g. Electronic precision balances
  • Footprint lifterse.g. Electrostatic dust print lifters
  • Specimen collection containere.g. Evidence collection containers
  • Law and GovernmentKnowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
  • Public Safety and SecurityKnowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
  • English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • ChemistryKnowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
  • Computers and ElectronicsKnowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.